Monday, January 31, 2011

Teacher Banned From Teaching For Touching Arm

A TEACHER with 50 years’ experience has told of her devastation after being banned from her school over claims she assaulted a pupil.

Thelma Hoskins, 67, said she simply put her hand on the nine-year-old boy’s arm after telling him off in class for disrupting a lesson.

A parent made a complaint and she was ordered to stay away from St Winefride’s Catholic Primary School in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

The school’s head teacher, Maureen Cairns, has also been suspended by the ­Catholic Diocese of Leeds.

Teachers at the school are understood to have rallied round the pair.

One said: “They have done nothing wrong and have been treated ­disgracefully. Now you can’t even tell off a child without getting into ­trouble.” Mrs Hoskins, who has taught at the school for two and half years, said: “I chastised a child who would not shut up. We had been doing some work and each group was showing what they were doing.

“I had him out in the front and told him: ‘Do you know you are doing wrong? Shut up and listen.’

“Later a parent made a complaint to the head. Mrs Cairns and I spoke to the little boy together and he agreed that he had been disruptive and said sorry to Mrs Cairns. I went off on ­holiday for Easter assuming it was all done with.

“When I got back the deputy head told me the ­governors had asked me to stay away. It is terrible when you know you have done nothing wrong.”

Bradford Council said: “It would be inappropriate for us to comment until the investigation is concluded.”

When I heard about this article it seemed ridiculous. But when I read the whole thing I thought maybe it wasn't just for touching his arm. The way she talked to that boy seemed completely uncalled for. Oh well..

Y'know, kids these days get coddled way too much. The brats need to learn the way kids used to be taught. Grab the darn ruler and make sure the kid never speaks in class again. Of course, be slightly gentle so you don't leave any incriminating marks.